Four students awarded Turner Construction Scholarships

Four graduate students recently received the Turner Construction Scholarship from UIC’s Department of Civil, Materials, and Environmental Engineering.

The Turner Construction scholarship was established in 2017 to support CME students who show an interest in construction management. The selection is based on academic performance, financial assistance, and providing accessibility and inclusiveness.

Timothy O. Idowu, Tomasz Miroslaw Szafranski, Aya Hassanein, and Afzal Tunio were selected for their promising performance and future career interests in construction management and related fields. The scholarships allow them to focus on their studies.

“Receiving the Turner Construction Scholarship is a tremendous honor and a meaningful support in my academic journey. It not only eases the financial burden of graduate studies but also reinforces my commitment to excellence in construction engineering and management. It motivates me to continue striving toward impactful contributions in the industry,” said Idowu.

Idowu is interning with Turner Construction and wants to work on large-scale infrastructure projects that improve urban environments and enhance community living after graduating.

“I was registered for three courses this fall semester; however, I was concerned that I would not be able to make ends meet financially and was considering dropping all three courses,” Szafranski said. “The scholarship allowed me to keep all three classes for which I am extremely grateful.”

 Szafranski is working as a construction manager and plans to pursue a project management professional certification and a professional engineering license after graduating.

In addition to scholarships, students are confident that UIC is preparing them for success in the workforce.

“This program is definitely helping as I am currently working full-time as a project engineer and sometimes, I hear things during conversations or meetings and I am aware of what they are due to what I am learning right now in the Construction Engineering and Management program,” said Hassanein, who is working in the construction field and wants to use the tools she learned to help improve the construction industry.

“The Construction Management program is helping me build the technical knowledge and the leadership mindset needed in today’s construction industry. The courses, team projects, and case studies have given me a strong foundation in project management, sustainability, and communication, skills that are essential in the professional world,” said Tunio, who wants to work on innovative and sustainable infrastructure developments that make a lasting impact after graduating.

With less concern about paying for school, the students are looking toward the future and how they can improve the world.

“Our job as engineers is to improve society’s life, create processes to make things more efficient, last longer, and be less expensive. As a construction manager working for Veterans Affairs, I hope the skills learned in the Construction Engineering and Management Graduate program will help me manage construction projects more efficiently,” Szafranski said.

He added this would lead to less impact to stakeholders’ operations during the construction phase, save money for the taxpayers, and provide better facilities for veterans.

“I believe construction is more than building structures. It’s about shaping communities and creating spaces that improve lives. Through sustainable practices, innovative design, and efficient project delivery, I aim to contribute to building safe, inclusive, and resilient environments for future generations,” Idowu added.

Since the inception of the MS degree program in Construction Engineering and Management in 2019, Turner Construction has supported the department through scholarships and strong professional involvement, including internships and employment opportunities for students and alumni.

“We look forward to fostering these collaborations and further growing our academic and professional relationship with Turner Construction, as one of the most respected and highly successful multi-national construction engineering services firms in the greater Chicago region and across the nation,” said Clinical Professor and Director of Construction Engineering and Management Program Hossein Ataei.